Life Is an Adventure. Take Charge of Your Health - Annual Physicals.

Practicing healthy behaviors such as getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, are only part of the plan to a healthy lifestyle. Getting routine preventative care is another part of this plan to help you stay well. Prevention is the best medicine! Staying current on your annual wellness visits or annual physicals can help make sure you get the screenings and care you need. Preventative medicine can also help to catch health issues earlier, when they are often easier to treat, helping you live a longer, healthier life.

Annual physicals or check-ups are different from a doctor's visit for a sickness or injury. In addition to a physical exam, these visits focus on preventative care such as screenings and tests to check for diseases early, services like vaccines to prevent health problems, and education/counseling to help you make informed decisions about your health. Annual physicals also provide a perfect time to check in on your overall health.

Wondering what you should expect at your annual physical exam?

Review of health history. This is the perfect time to bring your provider up to date on your recent health history. Discuss any changes in your family health history or any concerns you might have. Your provider may also ask about your exercise, smoking, and drinking habits.

Physical exam. Next, your provider will go through a physical exam. During this time, you can expect your provider to: check your heart rate, listen to your heart and lungs, check your mouth and ears, feel your lymph nodes, examine your skin, and look for swelling in your arms and legs. Your provider may do more or less depending on your age and medical history; however, you can generally expect some of these additional steps, including:

Check height and weight. Your provider will use your height and weight measurements to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). A high BMI is often associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Measure vital signs and blood pressure. Our vital signs are measurements of our body’s basic functions. Abnormalities in body temperature, pulse, and breathing rate could be signs of an underlying medical issue. High blood pressure can raise risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, and heart failure. The good news - there are many changes you can make to your lifestyle to bring these measurements back into a healthy range.

Questions your primary provider may ask you. Annual physical exams also serve as an opportunity to open the lines of communication with your provider. They are likely to ask you questions about the following topics to learn more about you to provide you with the best possible care. These topics could include substance use and misuse, family health history, and general life updates.

Wondering how you can prepare for your appointment? Here are a few tips.

Write down questions you may have. It can be easy to forget what you wanted to ask your provider. Writing your questions down ahead of time will help to make sure you remember all of them.

Make other appointments first. If you know you need bloodwork, a mammogram, or any other health maintenance-related screenings, it is recommended to have them done in advance of your physical. You can then bring those results along to your physical to review with your doctor.

Catalog your medical history. Has anything changed since your last visit? If you’ve received new diagnoses, gotten a vaccine, had a surgery, or any other recent health information, this is the time to tell your provider.

Know your medications. Your provider needs to know what you are taking, even if it was prescribed by another medical professional or purchased over-the-counter. Bringing a list of your medications, supplements, and vitamins can help you to remember to share this information with your provider.

Any additional health data. If you use a symptom tracker, chart your blood pressure, or keep track of anything else related to your health, bring that information to your appointment as well.

Annual physical exams help to set the groundwork or baseline for following up with any other health concerns or questions you may have. They also help to make sure you get regular screenings to help catch health concerns early on, when they are often easier to treat. Call your healthcare provider to schedule these preventative screenings today!

Life Is An Adventure. Take Charge of Your Health.

Jackson County: Healthy People, Strong Community.